LONDON/ISLAMABAD, Mar 17 (Agencies): The International community should play a “more active role” in Kashmir, Pakistan’s top diplomat Sartaj Aziz has said during a meeting with the British National Security Advisor in London.

Aziz, the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs advisor who is in the UK to attend the 50th meeting of Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, raised the issue of alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir during a meeting with British National Security Advisor Mark Lyall Grant, Radio Pakistan reported.

Aziz underscored the need for the international community to play a “more active role” in Kashmir, it said.

He also emphasised the need for a criteria-based approach for any new member in the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the report said.

They also discussed needs to further strengthen the existing relations through the available mechanism of Pakistan-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue.

The US on Wednesday said it was working with India and NSG members to push for New Delhi’s membership in the elite grouping, indicating that there was no change in America’s policy on the issue under the Trump administration.

Besides India, Pakistan has also applied for the membership of the NSG, a bloc that governs civilian nuclear trade worldwide.

India’s membership in the NSG has been blocked by China, Pakistan’s close ally.

SRINAGAR, Mar 17: A Bandipora court has extended judicial remand of Muslim League chairman and senior Hurriyat Conference leader Masarat Alam Bhat till March 22.
Sources said the remand was extended by Chief Judicial Magistrate Bandipora on a plea by police and the order comes a day before Sessions Judge Bandipora is likely to hear arguments on state’s plea against bail granted to Alam.
Alam, who is presently being detained at Police Station Sumbal, was granted bail by Chief Judicial Magistra